Altay MBT

Altay is one of the latest Main Battle Tanks currently in development. It is to become world’s most advanced combat platforms and considered to become the national pride as the first MBT designed in Turkish history. The Altay is expected to be introduced into operational service in 2015-2016, assuming it successfully passes it testing and evaluation of its automotive and technological systems. The Turkish government is planning to procure about 250 vehicles in early batch.

The Altay MBT program can compete with the modern systems of the world. Turkey maintains one of the world’s largest and most powerful militaries. Production is set to ensue out of the 1st Army Maintenance Center Command facility with each Altay system costing approximately $5.5 million USD. The Altay should favorably compare with other famous combat tank systems, like M1 Abrams, Merkava, Challenger II and Leopard 2.

This project was commissioned early in 2005. Then, the agreements were signed in 2007 and the design work of Altay started in 2008. Altay looks like South Korean tank designs. Otokar will the primary defense contractor, Roketsan will handle the armor development, MKE will be charge with development of the main gun and applicable systems and various other sub contractors for further development. The basic mock-up of Altay was first unveiled during the International Defense Industry Fair in mid 2011.

Outwardly, the Altay has a modern appearance with sharp lines all over. The turret and the hull will have a low profile design. There will be seven double-tired road wheels to a track side with drive sprocket at the rear and the track idler at the front. The engine will reside in a rear set compartment. Altay will have a longer hull and more armor when compared to the South Korean K2.

The Altay will field a 120mm smoothbore main gun in a 360 degree powered traversing turret allowing unfettered engagement of targets from any angle. The main gun will be digitally stabilized for firing on the move and the Aselsan/STM Volkan III modular fire control system will be computer assisted. The gun will sport a thermal sleeve and will have a fume extractor. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun will be fitted next to the main gun and a 12.7mm heavy machine gun is intended to counter threats from light armored vehicles and low flying aircrafts. Smoke grenade dischargers will be featured in twin banks of four along the turret sides.

The crew consists of a driver in the front right hull and the tank commander, gunner and loader in the turret. The vehicle will support a weight of 66 tons. The Altay will have standard MBT fixtures like, integrated NBC( Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) system, laser range finders, night vision and thermal imaging.

The multi-fuel diesel engine is of 1,800 horsepower. Top speed is estimated to be 43 miles per hour.

The name Altay has multiple origins. It comes from the Turkish Army General Fahrettin Altay who commanded during the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923). The name Altai itself comes from the Altai Mountains of Central Asia, the ancestral homeland of the Turkish people. Translation of Altay becomes Red Pony in reference to the mounts of their early warriors.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Otokar/Aseslan/Roketsan – Turkey; ROTEM – South Korea
Initial Year of Service: 2015
Focus Model: Altay MBT
Crew – 4
Weight: 72.8 US Short Tons (66,000 kgs)
Powerplant: 1 x MTU Diesel engine developing 1,500 early /1800 late horsepower
Maximum Speed: 43 mph (70 kmph)
NBC Protection: Yes
Night Vision: Yes
Operators: Turkey
Ammunition:
40×120 mm projectiles
3,200×12.7 mm ammunition
10,000×7.62 mm ammunition
16x smoke grenades
Operators: Turkey